Harry was driving the Firebolt to the very limit of its abilities, trying not to think about WHAT would happen if he did not reach Hogwarts… The Dementors were afraid to come closer, the stag had literally punched a highway through this swamp of horror and despair, but the castle was still far away… There definitely would not be enough strength for a new Patronus! If someone did not come out to help, they could say goodbye to hopes for a bright future… To a future at all… No, he had to fly, break through, even if the Patronus left them, he could not stop…
Severus Snape did not quite understand what had the Headmaster so worried. His request to go to the gates and be ready to let people in. holding back the onslaught of monsters, seemed illogical. After all, the former guards of Azkaban could not penetrate the grounds on their own, that was certain. And what people could reach here from the direction of the gates? If anyone remained in Hogsmeade, they could no longer be counted among people. Not a single Patronus could withstand such an onslaught… Even that damned Potter, who had worked a miracle in his third year, would not have been able to get out of there… POTTER??!!?? IMPOSSIBLE!!! And again this madman had climbed into hell not alone… He would have to save the idiot!
Harry woke up in the hospital wing. Listening to his own sensations, he realized that everything was all right with him, his soul was in place, his strength would soon recover… But something was wrong… Opening his eyes and putting on his glasses, which had been thoughtfully placed on the bedside table, Harry looked around. Flamia was lying on the neighboring bed. It was clear that she was alive, but she looked as if all her life force had been drained out of her… The boy was about to get up and come closer when Madam Pomfrey flew into the room. Naturally, now he could not even think about leaving his place any time soon. The nurse immediately began the examination, as always scattering remarks about how the Boy-Who-Well-Simply-Cannot-Help-But-Survive had once again found adventures for his head and other parts of his body. Although this time everything seemed to have ended with simple exhaustion and a couple of bruises (and when had he managed that?), if Madam Pomfrey had her way, she would have kept her patient for a month, especially since she still had not found the reason for such incredible survivability. And how had the boy managed to get out of Hogsmeade! Even a hedgehog could understand that summoning SUCH a Patronus was hardly within even Dumbledore's power. Apparently, some higher powers had intervened… Enough to make one start believing in God…
The torture for Potter did not last as long as he had feared. In the end, he had practically not suffered, so there was nothing to nitpick about. However, without outside interference, leaving here before Monday definitely did not shine for him… true, if Flamia did not regain consciousness by then, Harry would be ready to drink Skele-Gro by the gallons, just so as not to leave his beloved… What had happened to her? The nurse decided that this was the consequence of meeting the Dementors, except they had been there together, they had been protected by the Patronus… And even when Harry had lost consciousness in his third year in a fight with those fiends of Hell or whatever else, he had come to his senses after a few hours, but here… Practically a coma! Yes, the girl had clearly overdone it, trying to summon a Patronus. but she had not even managed it, where had all her strength gone?
"Harry… We need to talk…" Dumbledore appeared behind the boy literally out of thin air.
"Proffesor! Do you know anything about what happened to Flamia?"
"Yes… You see, she lost her strength… Fortunately, she is still alive, and therefore we can hope that her strength will return to her…"
"But how did that happen? She could not summon a Patronus!"
"You see, the thing is that she could…"
"But where was it, that Patronus! I saw only the stag!"
"Do not rush… Did you notice anything unusual about your Patronus?"
"Well, it was very strong, it never disappeared, though there were many Dementors there… And at the end, when we were breaking through to the castle, the stag simply swept everything from its path…"
"You see, Harry, even such a powerful wizard as I would not have been able to create such a creature. And you, do not be offended, but you are only a boy, not distinguished by any outstanding magical abilities. Yes, not every adult wizard is even capable of summoning a corporeal Patronus, but you reached your limit then, by the lake…"
"What are you trying to say?"
"Flamia was giving her strength to you.
"But… How? Why?"
"The thing is that because of Flamia's unusual origin, not everything that applies to an ordinary person applies to her. You already are her Patronus; in your presence Dementors are not dangerous to her… But because of this, the Expecto Patronum spell transfers her magical potential to you! And when you were trying to get out of the village, you surely both put all your strength into this spell!"
"But… I came to my senses…"
"Correct, because there was increased magical potential within you, and you simply could not squeeze yourself dry to the last drop… which saved both of you from death — how would you have been able to get out of there if you had fallen into a coma?"
Yes… Harry had not even thought about such a turn of events back then, in Hogsmeade. Although he knew perfectly well what the loss of strength could lead to…
"Harry… I have one request for you…"
"Professor?"
"You see… The thing is that very soon the moment may come when I will no longer be able to give battle to Voldemort and his followers…"
"But, sir! You are the most powerful wizard in England! You are the one Voldemort has always feared!"
"Ah, Harry… If only that made me invulnerable… But," the Headmaster showed his deadened hand, "time has not had mercy on me… I am growing old, and soon Tom will be able to take advantage of his edge…"
"But, sir! Hogwarts will be lost without you! The Ministry is perfectly capable of foisting some Umbridge on us again! Although Professor McGonagall is a wonderful teacher, her word is unlikely to carry more weight than Scrimgeour's! Especially since no one knows by what methods he is restoring order…" Harry clearly meant the cases with the arrests of "Death Eaters" like Stan, which ended with them being released after a Confundus was placed on them and they were convinced that they had not been in the country for the last half a year.
"And who said that I am planning to leave Hogwarts?" the old man winked slyly, though rather sadly, at the boy from behind his half-moon spectacles. "But I want you to be able to protect yourself and those whom you love. Of course, I could try to teach you those spells that I myself used in the fight against Tom, except I fear that you would not have enough strength for that… Besides, even I spent long years comprehending the magic that forced the Dark Lord himself to retreat…"
"So what do you want from me?" Harry clearly did not understand what the professor was getting at.
"I want you, Harry, to study Animagery… Yes, Animagery! I am sure that you will be able to gain new abilities; such a wizard as you is clearly connected with a powerful creature! You have a large soul and a pure heart, and that means a great deal…"
"Professor… And will I be studying Animagery officially?"
"Well… You see, not to mention the fact that hidden capabilities will give you a double advantage, I do not think Rufus Scrimgeour will approve such a petition without asking for something in return… And it seems to me you would not want to become a banner in the fight against Tom, correct? Even if we consider that your clash with Voldemort is inevitable, it is still your personal matter… Which, unfortunately, may affect the fates of the world…"
"Why… Explain to me, Professor Dumbledore, why do I deserve all this? I am also a person, I want to live a quiet life, to be like everyone else, but no one wants to accept that… For everyone… well, almost everyone… I am the Boy-Who-Is-Obliged-To-Save-Everyone-No-Matter-What-It-Costs-Him! But I did not ask Voldemort to kill my parents, I did not ask him to mark me as his equal!"
"Unfortunately, not everything is within our power… Do not think that I am some kind of schemer who wants to force a poor boy to take the rap for everyone again. I truly only want to give you a chance to survive in this cruel world. It is not easy for me either, believe me… Perhaps someday I will tell you my story, but not now… Now Flamia needs you. Be near her, she will feel it."
"All right… By the way, Professor Dumbledore, how will I study Animagery?"
"Do not worry, I will give you all the necessary literature. I am sure you will manage!"
"I will try, sir…"
The old wizard left the hospital wing, and Harry Potter sat down at the head of his beloved's bed and gently took her hand…
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